For the Beauty of the Earth – Folliott S. Pierpoint

In the spring of 1863, Folliott S. Pierpoint age 29 sat on a hilltop outside his native city of Bath admiring the country view and the winding Avon River, inspired by the view to think about God’s gifts in creation and in the church, Pierpont wrote this text when the primroses and violets were in full bloom. He said that his fingers had ‘wings of joy’ as he wrote these words. It was originally intended as a hymn for Holy Communion hence the refrain ‘Christ our God to Thee we raise this our sacrifice of praise.’ Editors of hymn books have modified it in various ways to make it more suitable for general use and a perfect hymn for harvest thanksgiving.

Pierpont was educated at Queen’s College, Cambridge, England, and periodically taught classics at Somersetshire College. But because he had received an inheritance, he did not need a regular teaching position and could afford the leisure of personal study and writing. His three volumes of poetry were collected in 1878; he contributed hymns to The Hymnal Noted (1852) and Lyra Eucharistica (1864). This hymn, surely his lasting legacy, is to be found in most modern hymn books of all denominations.

Christopher Jobson

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Feature Image: Hymns Ancient & Modern.